Empathy curriculum stream

All medical schools teach communication skills, however, they are often not evidence-based or empathy focused. Through rigorous research, we have developed and delivered a longitudinal empathy-focused communication skills training programme to medical students and healthcare professionals.

To ensure that students are always aware of how pathophysiological facts are linked to real patient stories, we invite patients to support the delivery of pathophysiology teaching. While getting patients involved in teaching communication skills is common, we are not aware of other institutions who get patients into the lecture theatre during the teaching of pathophysiology.

Our research found that empathy often declines when students transition from the pre-clinical to the clinical phases of medical school training. This is because the pre-clinical training is relatively protected, in the lecture theatre, whereas the clinical phase is more challenging. To address this, we have a transition course that includes role model training and near-to-peer support.

On average, medical students are much younger and healthier than most of the patients they treat, and this can inhibit their ability to understand and empathize with them. We provide students with direct contact with patients, for example by having them visit patients in their communities (in a safe way). This facilitates deeper understanding of patients’ circumstances.

Stress inhibits communication, so in order to enhance empathy between practitioners and patients, it is important that medical student and practitioner wellbeing levels are addressed. While medical student wellbeing starts as higher than their peers, it often falls to lower than their peers by the time they finish medical school. We have an innovative and evidence-based approach to wellbeing training that spans all medical school years.

Engaging in creative activities is a likely way for practitioners and students to enhance their empathy. The Centre is starting to build the evidence-base to inform this budding theme.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly used by practitioners and patients to help with diagnosis and treatment. We ensure that the healthcare practitioners we train offer the best empathy that humans can offer (which exceeds what AI can offer), and that insofar as AI is used, that it enhances empathy.